http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/rss M-K-G's latest journal entries Lang-8 Inc. Thu May 23 22:03:03 UTC 2013 Thu May 23 22:03:03 UTC 2013 Lang-8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Lang-8 I'd appreciate your help!

-----------------------------------------------------

(A)
It feels so fresh to wear glasses for the first time in our life, as many people agree. At first, we feel as if we were reborn in another world. However, this surprise doesn't last very long. Soon we come to take that sense for granted. We will even forget that we are wearing glasses. Then, if we are forced to live without them for some reason, you will realize again how important glasses are to you.

(B)
It feels so fresh to wear glasses for the first time in our life, as many people agree. At first, we feel as if we were reborn in another world. However, this surprise doesn't last very long. Soon we come to take that sense for granted. At last, we are not conscious even of wearing glasses. So we appreciate their value again when we are forced to put them off for some reason.

Posted at Wed Apr 25 14:03:33 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1444195 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1444195 M-K-G Wed Apr 25 14:03:33 UTC 2012
(A) "My father had died before I arrived there."

Do you think the sentences below are correct for rephrasing (A)?

(B) "My father died before I arrived there."
(C) "My father had been dead before I arrived there."
(D) "My father was dead before I arrived there."

I'd appreciate your support!

Posted at Mon Apr 16 18:33:10 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1427527 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1427527 M-K-G Mon Apr 16 18:33:10 UTC 2012 (B) "Are you a stranger around here?" "Yes, this is the first time I've been to this place."

Do you think these sentences are both correct?
I'd appreciate your opinions.

Posted at Mon Apr 16 12:33:07 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1426751 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1426751 M-K-G Mon Apr 16 12:33:07 UTC 2012 (B) Last Sunday I visited Ueno Zoo after a long time.
(C) Last Sunday I visited after a long interval.
(D) Last Sunday I visited after a long separation.
(E) Last Sunday I visited after a long absence.


Which do you think is (are) correct and sound(s) natural?
I'd appreciate your opinions!

Posted at Mon Apr 16 05:14:57 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1426171 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1426171 M-K-G Mon Apr 16 05:14:57 UTC 2012 For example, do you feel any difference between the two sentences below?

(A) Have you started your homework? Finish that soon, and I'll let you watch TV.
(B) Have you started on your homework? Finish that soon, and I'll let you watch TV.

I'd appreciate your opinions!

Posted at Mon Apr 09 18:09:35 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1414571 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1414571 M-K-G Mon Apr 09 18:09:35 UTC 2012
I wrote two opinions both in favor of and against this statement.
Would you mind correcting these?


(A) Yes, because books tell us how the authors think about and live their lives. I think stories of one’s personal experiences are the most helpful in gaining such knowledge.

(B) No, because the information of books is all about the older days and doesn’t reflect what today’s world is like. So it is no useful way to acquire such knowledge.



Posted at Fri Apr 06 15:14:19 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1408910 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1408910 M-K-G Fri Apr 06 15:14:19 UTC 2012 (B) Before he left he said he was going to be back here soon, but I don't see him yet.


I think (A) is correct but (B) isn't, because (B) implies "he" was starting to be back when he was about to leave, which doesn't make any sense.
Is my understanding right?
I'd appreciate your support!

Posted at Mon Mar 19 17:48:30 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1372953 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1372953 M-K-G Mon Mar 19 17:48:30 UTC 2012
I've translated this Japanese famous phrase like this.


"There's nothing you can never do if you try, there's nothing you can do without trying."


Would you mind correcting it?
And I'd appreciate it if you'd given me another translation you think of.

Posted at Sat Mar 17 03:22:39 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1368392 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1368392 M-K-G Sat Mar 17 03:22:39 UTC 2012
(B) "I felt a nightmare sensation of falling; and, looking round, I saw the laboratory exactly as before. Had anything happened? For a moment 1 suspected that my intellect had tricked me. Then I noted the clock. A moment before, as it seemed , it had stood at a minute or so past ten; now it was nearly half-past three! " I drew a breath, set my teeth, gripped the starting lever with both hands, and went off with a thud." ("The Time Machine", 2008)

(C) As it seems she does not want to change.

(D) Studying abroad was as good an experience as it seemed.


I'm very interested in what the expression "as it seems" means.
Would you mind telling me if you feel any difference in nuance among the four usages of the phrase above?

Posted at Fri Mar 16 08:37:41 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1367225 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1367225 M-K-G Fri Mar 16 08:37:41 UTC 2012 Would you mind correcting this?
And I'd appreciate it if you'd given me possible rephrasing for "watching a drama live is the key to enjoying it" in Mother's third remark.

----------------------------------------------

Mother: What are you watching, Ken?
Ken: A baseball game.
Mother: My favorite drama is starting. I want to see it. OK?
Ken: Hey, what are you doing, Mom? Stop it. You can videotape it and see it later, right?
Mother: Thank you very much for the idea, but watching a drama live is the key to enjoying it.
Ken: Come on, Mom. The baseball game is getting exciting now. I want to watch it. Please!
Mother: Excuse me, Ken. Did you finish your homework?
Ken: Homework? Oh, no ... You can watch it.

Posted at Wed Mar 14 15:18:56 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1364488 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1364488 M-K-G Wed Mar 14 15:18:56 UTC 2012 I'd appreciate your support!

----------------------------------------------

If I became the principal of my school, I would enlarge the playground.
A large playground lets students take a lot of exercise, which I think promotes their learning.
The athletic meeting would be more enjoyable and cheerful, and my students would like my school better.


Posted at Wed Mar 14 09:22:45 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1363857 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1363857 M-K-G Wed Mar 14 09:22:45 UTC 2012 I'd appreciate your support!


------------------------------------------------------


I think it is robots that will change the world a lot in the 21st century. One reason is that they can do various jobs much more accurately and efficiently than we human beings do. Second, we can leave daily chores to them, which enables us to save a lot of time and energy. So I believe they will realize a more productive and stressless world, which we couldn’t imagine centuries ago.

Posted at Wed Mar 07 12:51:23 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1352357 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1352357 M-K-G Wed Mar 07 12:51:23 UTC 2012
(B) Nothing taught me more than my last travel, during which I experienced a lot of new things.

(C) Nothing taught me more than my last trip during which I experienced a lot of new things.


Are these sentences all correct?
And if (C) is correct, what do you think is the difference in meaning between (A) and (C)?
I'd appreciate your opinions!

Posted at Thu Mar 01 03:08:12 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1341107 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1341107 M-K-G Thu Mar 01 03:08:12 UTC 2012
(B) Nothing has told me more than my last trip, in which I experienced a lot of new things.

(C) Nothing has taught me more than my last trip, on which I experienced a lot of new things.

(D) Nothing has taught me more than my last trip, when I experienced a lot of new things.

(E) Nothing has taught me more than my last trip, where I experienced a lot of new things.


Do you think these sentences are all correct?
I'd appreciate your support!

Posted at Wed Feb 29 10:08:20 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1339841 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1339841 M-K-G Wed Feb 29 10:08:20 UTC 2012
(B) My trip around Asian countries last year really helped me learn a lot. Nothing taught me more than this trip, in which I experienced a lot of things I had never.

(C) My trip around Asian countries last year really helped me learn a lot. Nothing has taught me more than this trip, in which I had experienced a lot of things I had never.

(D) My trip around Asian countries last year really helped me learn a lot. Nothing has taught me more than this trip, in which I have experienced a lot of things I had never.



Do you think these sentences are all correct?
I'd appreciate your support!

Posted at Tue Feb 28 12:49:58 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1338352 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1338352 M-K-G Tue Feb 28 12:49:58 UTC 2012 (B) This train leaves Tokyo at six, arriving at Osaka at nine.
(C) Leaving Tokyo at six, this train arrives at Osaka at nine.


Do you think these are all correct?

Posted at Mon Feb 27 15:31:07 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1336935 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1336935 M-K-G Mon Feb 27 15:31:07 UTC 2012

The sentence following this, which do you think is correct?


(A) "I couldn't help thinking how stupid I had been to get angry at trivial things."

(B) "I couldn't help thinking how stupid I was to get angry at trivial things."

(C) "I couldn't stop thinking how stupid I had been to get angry at trivial things."

(D) "I couldn't help wondering how stupid I had been to get angry at trivial things."

(E) "I couldn't help finding how stupid I had been to get angry at trivial things."

Posted at Mon Feb 27 05:26:47 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1336009 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1336009 M-K-G Mon Feb 27 05:26:47 UTC 2012 I'd appreciate your help!


(A) An island is a land which is smaller than a continent, and completely surrounded by water.
(B) An island is a place isolated from continents by oceans.
(C) An island is a place separated from continents by oceans.

Posted at Fri Feb 24 12:00:13 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1331519 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1331519 M-K-G Fri Feb 24 12:00:13 UTC 2012
(B) As has often been said since the old days, Japanese gardens are ones to enjoy seeing, not where you do something, such as getting exercises or taking rests. Most of those who grew up before the war remember being scolded by their mother in their childhoods, saying, "You must not play in the garden."


Would you mind correcting these sentences?
I'd appreciate your support!

Posted at Wed Feb 22 02:27:15 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1327600 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1327600 M-K-G Wed Feb 22 02:27:15 UTC 2012 (B) She isn't used to tough jobs, but always tries to work twice as much as others.


Do you think these are both correct?

Posted at Mon Feb 20 12:21:26 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1324915 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1324915 M-K-G Mon Feb 20 12:21:26 UTC 2012 (B) Human beings have always been much the same.
(C) Human beings have been almost the same if they are born in different times.
(D) People are not so different whenever they live.


Do you think these are all correct?

Posted at Fri Feb 17 23:29:46 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1320734 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1320734 M-K-G Fri Feb 17 23:29:46 UTC 2012
(B) "These days young people don't care much about others and too often behave in a self-centered manner." "That's not what started recently."

(C) "These days young people don't care much about others and too often behave in a self-centered manner." "They have done so for a long time."

(D) "These days young people don't care much about others and too often behave in a self-centered manner." "It has been a problem for a long time."

(E) "These days young people don't care much about others and too often behave in a self-centered manner." "The problem has existed for a long time."

(F) "These days young people don't care much about others and too often behave in a self-centered manner." "That's not what we see only nowadays."

(G) "These days young people don't care much about others and too often behave in a self-centered manner." "That's not what comes [begins] to happen only today."


I think (A) is correct, but I doubt the others are.
What do you think of them?
And would you mind giving me other examples?

Posted at Fri Feb 17 15:13:24 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1320347 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1320347 M-K-G Fri Feb 17 15:13:24 UTC 2012 (B) "What is the main topic of the speech?" "Today's weak economy is."


My guess is that (A) is correct and (B) is not.
Is this right?

Posted at Fri Feb 17 11:04:27 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1319986 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1319986 M-K-G Fri Feb 17 11:04:27 UTC 2012 (B) Since this book is written in easy English, it is good for the beginners.
(C) Since this book is written in easy English, it is good for its beginners.

Which do you think sound(s) natural in this context?

Posted at Thu Feb 16 07:53:24 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1318218 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1318218 M-K-G Thu Feb 16 07:53:24 UTC 2012 (B) In libraries, some students read a newspaper or a magazine and others study.

Do you think both sound natural?
I'd appreciate your opinions!


Posted at Tue Feb 14 13:16:44 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1315282 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1315282 M-K-G Tue Feb 14 13:16:44 UTC 2012 Probably the point is that "the other" means all the rest of the people or the things you refer to.

Then, how about these sentences?


(A) Though she is not used to tough jobs, but she always tries to work harder than others.
(B) Though she is not used to tough jobs, but she always tries to work harder than the others.


My guess is that both are correct, and the difference is just what the speaker focuses on.
In (A), the speaker doesn't intend to specify "others", but in (B) he implies the people working with her at the same office or company.

Is my understanding right?

Posted at Tue Feb 14 04:24:28 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1314599 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1314599 M-K-G Tue Feb 14 04:24:28 UTC 2012

I'd like to know the difference in meaning between when "any" is used and when "some".
My guess is that if "any" is used it means the speaker thought she could've sold one match at most, but the usage of "some" implies the speaker thought it was possible that she'd sold several matches.
Is this guess right?
I'd appreciate your support!

Posted at Mon Feb 13 19:18:40 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1314103 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1314103 M-K-G Mon Feb 13 19:18:40 UTC 2012 (B) Some people believe that women master foreign languages faster than men.


I think (A) is correct but (B) is not.
Is my understanding right?
And if so, would you mind telling me why you think "fast" is inappropriate here?

Posted at Mon Feb 13 17:27:13 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1314015 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1314015 M-K-G Mon Feb 13 17:27:13 UTC 2012
(B) Teacher: "Some students seem not to like English, but it is easy to be good at it. Just make a practice of studying it for an hour every day."

(C) Teacher: "Some students seem not to like English, but it is easy to be good at it. Just try to study it for an hour every day."

(D) Teacher: "Some students seem not to like English, but it is easy to be good at it. Just try studying it for an hour every day."


Do you think these are all correct?
I'd appreciate your opinions!

Posted at Mon Feb 13 10:48:45 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1313252 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1313252 M-K-G Mon Feb 13 10:48:45 UTC 2012
If you rewrite this phrase, which do you think sounds natural?


(A) Saying good-bye to him, I left his house.
(B) I said good-bye to him, leaving his house.
(C) I left his house, saying good-bye to him.
(D) Leaving his house, I said good-bye to him.

Posted at Mon Feb 13 05:48:22 UTC 2012
]]> http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1312878 http://lang-8.com/21732/journals/1312878 M-K-G Mon Feb 13 05:48:22 UTC 2012